Elections can be held in 2013: Chinamasa

Elections in Zimbabwe are not possible until constitutional reforms are finalised, Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa told state media on Friday.

"We need to start talking about elections next year or 2013, assuming that the (constitutional) referendum is held in September as we have been advised," Chinamasa told the Herald.

"It is my own opinion that it is not possible to hold elections this year."

Chinamasa is one of the representatives from President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party in negotiations to map out a plan for a new vote to elect a successor to the shaky unity government with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, lead of the rival Movement for Democratic Change.

On Thursday, Tsvangirai told his party congress that the elections tipped by Mugabe for this year could only be held in 2012, citing lack of progress in the drafting of a new constitution.

"We have come up with an election roadmap to identify signposts to be traversed ahead of elections in Zimbabwe," said Chinamasa.

The referendum process on the drafting of the constitution is running months behind after public outreach meetings were repeatedly postponed over outbreaks of violence, often by Mugabe supporters.

Last year, Mugabe called for fresh elections, arguing that the unity government was not working.

But he has appeared to back away from his insistance on the polls, after regional leaders last month insisted that Zimbabwe draft a new constitution before going to elections.

Mugabe and Tsvangirai agreed to form a power-sharing government to stem an economic meltdown that followed the violence marred presidential run-off in 2008.